3rd April 2025
Spring is a wonderful time to explore the beauty of Thame's award-winning Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve. The reserve is bursting with life, birds are nesting, flowers are blooming, and the brook is teeming with activity. And if you're a dog owner, you can play a vital role in helping to protect this special place for wildlife while enjoying it with your furry friend.
Here are some tips to make your visit enjoyable for everyone:
Keep your dog on a lead
Ground-nesting birds like skylarks and meadow pipits rely on the grasslands to raise their young, while other creatures such as mammals and reptiles depend on undisturbed habitats. Keeping your dog on a lead ensures these animals can thrive without fear of disturbance.
Avoid letting your dog enter the water
Did you know that flea treatments for dogs often contain imidacloprid, a chemical highly toxic to aquatic life? Just one monthly treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees! When dogs swim, these chemicals can wash off into the brook, harming insect larvae like mayflies and dragonflies—key food sources for fish, birds, and bats. By keeping your dog out of the water, you’re helping preserve this delicate ecosystem.
Always pick up after your dog
Did you know the nutrients in dog mess make it much harder for wildflowers to thrive? They need low nutrient soils and dog poo adds nutrients, which encourages an overabundance of thistles and nettles that outcompete the wildflowers. Please ensure you always pick up after your dog and put bagged dog poo in a bin or take it home.
Vary your walking routes
Wildlife needs space to raise their young undisturbed. By exploring different paths or alternating walks between the reserve and other locations, you’re giving nature a chance to flourish.
Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve is a treasure for both people and wildlife. Together, we can ensure it remains a safe haven for all its inhabitants while still being a fantastic place to enjoy with your dog. Thank you for helping protect this beautiful space!
